Industrial wind scam returns – Is your town in the sacrifice zone? 

The towns of Ellery, North Harmony, Stockton, Sherman, Westfield, and Ripley are being targeted by Bedrock Renewables.

Bedrock gets lots of Federal, State and local subsidy money if they succeed in erecting 600-foot industrial wind turbines across the western portion of Chautauqua County.

NYISO states the power realized from onshore wind is 24% of rated capacity but “is actually 10% due to being out of phase with grid demand” (Power Trends). One 450 foot wind turbine tower is made of 900 tons of steel, 2300 tons of concrete and 1300 tons of non recyclable plastic. Not Green. Not Zero.

The Wind Target Zone stretches across the fourth most important migrating bird flyway in North America on the Lake Erie escarpment where flocks of birds seek the updrafts to propel them across Lake Erie. Proposed turbines may also be located on the Chautauqua Gorge watershed – one of the most unique geological features of the county and a protected “high quality spawning habitat for several native Great Lakes fish…” (US Fish and Wildlife).

Three industrial wind projects already exist in the county: Arkwright, Cassadaga and Ball Hill Wind. Arkwright Wind has been sued by an ever increasing number of victims whose suit states: “damages related to loss of property values…. damages for relocation costs and time spent relocating, mental anguish, destruction of scenic countryside, physical pain and suffering, difficulty sleeping, nuisance, trespass, interference with electronics in their homes, loss of business profits…”

After hearing from numerous wind victims, the Chautauqua County Health Board issued a recommendation: “regarding potential human health effects related to IWTs [Industrial Wind Turbines] ….the home rule authority of our local boards of health to take steps to safeguard the health and wellness of our residents and protect the environment within our counties has been put at risk”…”this Board urges local municipalities to pass a proper wind law that restricts IWTs to a minimum of 1.5 miles from any property line and 35 or fewer decibels in sound frequency.”

The impacts of wind turbine syndrome caused by infrasound (low frequency inaudible vibrations) on the health of all living creatures is documented around the world. Blade kills of birds are well known. Bats flying in proximity to turbines experience pulmonary barotrauma causing bats’ lungs to explode due to rapid air pressure changes. Agricultural experts warn the loss of pollinating insects caused by turbine blades is negatively affecting farm production.

Several towns in the Wind Target Zone have wisely enacted a one year moratorium on Industrial Wind applications and MET (meteorological wind assessment towers) to give trustees time to write protective wind laws.

The No PILOT for Industrial Wind Resolution – Chautauqua County states. “It has been demonstrated that the environmental, economic, and community impacts of large wind energy projects of 5 Megawatts (MW) or more can be significant and might well have a net negative effect on the County “.

Wind proposal moratoriums, wind law containing turbine setbacks of 1.5 miles from property lines, no PILOT agreements, and a Drinking Water Resource Protection Law (Town of Chautauqua & Village of Mayville) – are all protective measures that can be used by town leaders to let developers know: No Wind – no more destruction of birds, bats, and essential insects, no more destruction of our rural, pristine forests, scenic vistas, agricultural land, watersheds and quality of life!

Karen Engstrom Harvey is a Mayville resident.